New Real Madrid superstar forward Kylian Mbappe got on the scoresheet for the first time as a Madridista on Sunday, putting both goals in the back of the net in a 2-0 win over Real Betis at the Santiago Bernabeu.
You could almost feel the collective sigh of relief from the home fans through the screen when Mbappe scored the first, latching onto a world-class backheel from midfielder Fede Valverde to dispatch a straightforward finish – one he had seen his idol Cristiano Ronaldo replicate hundreds of times at the Bernabeu before him.
We all know Mbappe emulates Cristiano. From his celebration to his chop to his style of cutting inside from the left wing, Mbappe plays like Cristiano and even tries to act like him, performing many of the same gestures as CR7 did on his Bernabeu presentation.
But at this Real Madrid, Mbappe isn’t going to be a left winger. Vinicius Junior is the established left winger at the Bernabeu and has won two Champions League titles when coming off the left side of the attack, whether that was partnering with center forward Karim Benzema or right-sided forward Rodrygo Goes.
Mbappe is coming to a Real Madrid attack that is already Vini Jr.’s., but as the Brazilian’s gesture of giving Mbappe the penalty against Real Betis showed, the No. 7 isn’t going to block the new No. 9 from getting his goals or being just as important to the attack.
As much as Mbappe looks up to Ronaldo and plays like him, he may have to change his game to fulfill the role of the player he was supposed to combine with in the Real Madrid attack two years ago, Karim Benzema.
Close friends and even teammates in the French national team, Mbappe also looked up to Benzema, a Ballon d’Or winner in his own right, as an example. Benzema was often second fiddle to Cristiano in his days at Real Madrid, later showing the world why he was the best on the planet in his own right by combining with Vinicius Jr. to own the 2021/22 Champions League season.
Benzema could score 20 goals in a season, but he could also notch double-digit assists as the best all-around striker in the world from a dribbling, creative, and hold-up play perspective. Big Benz could do it all.
Whereas Mbappe has been criticized by those in PSG and in the media for not being well-rounded enough. Mbappe is seen as someone who focuses on his own goals and stats to the point of a flow, which was the same accusation levied against Cristiano Ronaldo in the past.
However, just as Cristiano proved to be an adept out-and-out winger or striker whenever called upon, Mbappe has shown the traits required of a more all-around player, including in the middle of the attack.
Mbappe is going to have to channel two of his heroes at Real Madrid for the betterment of the team. Vincius Jr. and Mbappe can make each other even stronger, just as Benzema and Cristiano did or Vinicius Jr. and Benzema did.
Because Vinicius is already there and cannot play in the middle like Mbappe can, the Frenchman is going to have to be more like his compatriot in playing style and mold his game.
Rodrygo Goes, best on the left wing, already did that by becoming a right-sided attacker for Real Madrid to help the team. Mbappe can and will do the same for the Merengues.
He can still carry himself like Cristiano with his mannerisms, skill moves, shooting style, and attitude. But he is going to have to be the man in the middle, drawing defenders, creating space with his feet, and bringing others into the game as a striker like Benzema.
Mbappe has the tall task of channeling both Real Madrid legends, but he is capable of rising to the occasion as a two-time World Cup finalist and a man who has scored more than 25 goals in 5 different league seasons.
The managing editor of The Trivela Effect, Kevin has 15 years of experience in digital media. He covered Real Madrid from 2019-2022 for The Real Champs as a site manager. You can contact him at the site’s official Twitter handle @TrivelaEffect or via the site’s official email thetrivelaeffect@gmail.com.